BY MARGARET MORGAN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Did you know that Mother’s Day is the second most popular day for dining out (Thanksgiving tops the list)? Now is time to make your plans and reservations to ensure dining at your special mom’s restaurant. Here are a few suggestions for dining at some of the Jersey Shore’s most popular and scenic places.

The spectacular waterfront view of the historic Navesink River at the Salt Creek Grille provides the perfect backdrop for a dinner that will show Mom how much you love her. The award-winning American grille with an upscale, casual atmosphere features a special menu prepared by Executive Chef Bob Belt and includes outstanding steaks, chops, chicken, seafood, pasta and house-made desserts. A children’s menu is also available. Mother’s Day dinner will be served from 12 noon to 7 p.m.

Some highlights of the à la carte menu are: Seared Rare Ahi and Chinese Pork Dumplings for appetizers; Grilled Chicken Penne, Tilapia & Crab, Coffee-encrusted New York Strip and Spaghetti Squash  & Ricotta Ravioli are a few of the featured entrées. For dessert, indulge in Apple Crisp, Chocolate Cake or Cheesecake. Salt Creek Grille, 4 Bingham Avenue, Rumson, 732.933.9272 Reservations are recommended and all major credit cards accepted.

At David Burke Fromagerie, For Mother’s Day, an à la carte dinner menu will be served from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended, so reserve now as seating is limited (Mother’s Day Brunch is sold out). Call 732-842-8088. David Burke Fromagerie, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson.

Avenue in Pier Village on the Boardwalk overlooks the magnificent Atlantic Ocean and is offering both Mother’s Day Brunch ($38 per person) and Mother’s Day Dinner ($45 per person). 

Executive Chef Dominique Filoni’s French-style Brasserie Brunch offerings include: Hors D’oeuvres and Salads; Eggs Benedict, Trout Amandine, Scottish Salmon, Omelets and Steak Frites; and traditional French desserts, e.g. Apple Tarte Tatin, Crệpe Suzette and Crệme Brulée. Mother’s Day Brunch is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Mother’s Day Dinner from 4:30 to 8 p.m. features: Escargots, Asparagus Soup and Steak Tartare appetizers; entrées include Halibut, Moules Frites, Boeuf Bourguignon, Roasted Chicken and Steak Frites ($5 extra); traditional French desserts and a selection of ice cream and sorbets.

Reservations are recommended. Avenue is on the Boardwalk at 23 Ocean Avenue, Pier Village, Long Branch, 732.759.2900.

If a country outing is more to your liking, you might try the historic American Hotel in Freehold.

Enjoy the comfort of the Market Square Grille and Executive Chef Brian Kiddie’s Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Savor the spectacular Seafood Raw Bar, Traditional Carving Stations, Chef Attended Stations that include Pasta, Wok, Slider, Waffle & Omelet Stations, as well as Jersey Fresh vegetables, assorted breakfast items and a Pastry Chef Attended Dessert Station. Mother Day Brunch is $32.00 for adults, which includes a complimentary Mimosa, Glass of Champagne or Bloody Mary; $17.00 for kids (12 and under), and kids under 3 years of age eat free.  Reservations are required - call 732.431.3220, x105.  American Hotel, 18-20 East Main Street, Freehold.

Back on the Shore, Kitschens’ restaurants are celebrating Mother’s Day. Enjoy Mother's Day brunch or dinner at any of its venues and, as an extra treat, Kitschens will give Mom $10 Kitschens Bucks good to use on her next visit. In Asbury Park, Dauphin Grille at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, 1401 Ocean Avenue, is celebrating moms with a Champagne Brunch Buffet for $29.95; Trinity and the Pope, 649 Mattison Avenue, is offering a three-course, New Orleans'-inspired menu for $24.95 from 1 - 9 p.m. and Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Avenue, will serve a three-course menu for brunch, lunch and dinner all day long, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., featuring an “eclectic assortment” for $28.95

If you plan to take Mom for a little shopping at The Grove in Shrewsbury, a little Mexican flavor may please her palate at Pop's Garage Grove West, There will be À la Carte Dining with Mother’s Day Specials from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Or, if you’re southward bound, maybe to your beach house, Labrador Lounge will have a prix fixe brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $25 and a prix fixe dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. for $30. Labrador Lounge is at 3581 Route 35 North, Normandy Beach, 732.830.5770.
*Kitschens Bucks valid through June 20, 2012.

And if you are thinking about heading further south to Atlantic City for the weekend, there are several alluring options for treating the special mom in your life - from fabulous spa packages to indulgent dining and special golfing privileges.

Caesars Atlantic City is celebrating Mom with three special packages at the award winning Qua Baths and Spa. #1 Mother includes a full body scrub, massage, organic facial, and spa lunch for $491; One +One, a mother-daughter experience with massage or facial and spa lunch for two is $406; or for expecting mothers, the One On The Way package includes a prenatal massage, scalp massage and spa lunch for $227. Nero’s at Caesars will serve their legendary brunch including offerings like hand-carved prime rib and lamb, imported meats and cheeses and classic desserts like tiramisu and cannolis.  Café Roma at Caesars is offering a flower to all mothers and a three-course prix fixe menu that includes salmon or steak and a lemon blueberry tart. Atlantic Grill is also offering a special three-course menu for Mom with options like burrata mozzarella, truffled gnocchi, Chilean sea bass, and a hazelnut crunch bar, along with some of the best views in the city. The Caesars Mother’s Day includes an overnight stay, VIP check-in, a four-course dinner for two at one of Caesars’ gourmet restaurants, and an Aromatherapy Massage or Aromatherapy Facial at Qua Baths and Spa. Reservations can be made at www.CaesarsAC.com.

Harrah’s Resort is offering three unique spa packages at the renowned Red Door Spa by Elizabeth Arden. Choose between Beautiful Mom, with a facial or massage, manicure, pedicure, and makeup refresher for $209; A Day She Deserves, with a facial, massage, manicure, pedicure, collagen eye add-on, and makeup refresher for $338; or the over-the-top Ultimate Gratitude, with an ultimate facial, massage, manicure, pedicure, shampoo, blow dry, spa lunch, and makeup refresher for $479.

You could always treat Mom to a three-day weekend by booking her a relaxing Red Door Escape package at Harrah’s Resort or a Mother’s Day package at Caesars Atlantic City. The Red Door package includes an overnight stay in a deluxe Harrah’s Resort room and $100 Red Door Spa credit with rate starting at $125. Reservations can be made at www.HarrahsResort.com.

Not to be outdone, the restaurants at Harrah’s Resort are also offering Mother’s Day treats specialties. Sammy D’s is serving up special strawberries-and-cream Belgian waffles for $12.75, while a special Mothers’ Day three-course tasting menu will be offered at The Steakhouse with choices such as spring greens and goat cheese salad, Jersey Flounder with a chardonnay butter sauce and strawberry shortcake for $65 per guest.

Bally’s Atlantic City will feature the ever-impressive Reserve Sunday Brunch around the beautiful 6th floor atrium grand piano. Moms can indulge in the classic brunch buffet and made-to-order tapas options like chocolate brownie waffles and crabcakes benedict for $39.00. The Spa at Bally’s is also offering Mom-focused packages this Mother’s Day with the Many Thanks package, which includes a Swedish massage or body scrub and spa lunch for $136; the One on the Way package for expecting mothers includes a pre-natal massage and spa lunch for $136; and the Marvelous Woman package includes a full body ocean sunset scrub, hot stone massage and spa lunch for $326.

Showboat’s Vive Day Spa and Salon is offering a special gift to guests who purchase $150 gift cards between May 1st and May 11th.  Scarduzio’s-Steak-Sushi-Lounge, home to one of the most indulgent brunches in town with a full buffet and made to order options and raw bar, is offering house-made chocolate truffles to all mothers at brunch on May 13 for $39.99.

The Atlantic City Country Club (ACCC) will host their annual Mother’s Day Brunch with hand- carved meats, made-to-order omelets and a dessert room Mom will love for $39.95 per guest. The ACCC is also offering $25 golf for ladies in celebration of the holiday.

Brunch and dinner reservations for all outlets can be made on Open Table. For spa reservations, call 609.441.5333 for Red Door Spa, 609.343.4118 for Vive Day Spa and Salon, 609.340.4603 for the Spa at Bally’s, and 609.343.2400 for Qua Baths and Spa.

For food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events, visit at Shore Region Food Examiner and TastefulLiving.net.